Second-term: Obama's four biggest challenges

President Barack Obama has set high goals for his second term. But Congressional gridlock, uneven public support and the ever-shifting news cycle could prevent him from achieving some of those goals. Below, a look at Obama's top priorities and the challenges he'll need to overcome.

Reducing the deficit

What Obama wants

Shortly after taking office in 2009, Obama pledged to cut the annual budget deficit in half, but it remained above $1 trillion each of his first four years. While running for re-election, he also said he wanted to end the Bush tax cuts for families making more than $250,000 a year as part of a deficit-reduction plan that would include spending cuts and tax increases.

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What stands in his way

Conservatives in Congress don't like tax hikes, while their liberal colleagues don't like spending cuts on entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The compromise to the recent fiscal cliff ended the Bush tax cuts for families making more than $400,000 a year, but Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said he won't agree to any more tax increases. Congressional Republicans are threatening to not raise the debt ceiling, sending the U.S. into temporary default, if Obama doesn't agree to more spending cuts. Meantime, automatic cuts of $1 trillion are scheduled to go into effect unless Congress reaches a deal by March.

How he could get it done

By closing tax loopholes or limiting deductions. Ending some corporate tax breaks and stopping subsidies to the oil industry would raise money. Limiting the number of deductions that higher-income families can take would raise more. But to raise substantial money, Obama would have to agree to cut popular middle-class tax breaks like those for health insurance and mortgages, which is unlikely.

By cutting military spending. According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, the United States spends more on defense than the next 13 countries combined. Some observers think Obama's choice of former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense is a signal that he intends to start cutting defense spending.

And by improving the economy. It's an economic truism that's often overlooked: If more Americans return to the workforce or get higher-paying jobs, they'll pay more in taxes. For more than 60 years, when unemployment has dropped, the deficit -- calculated as a percentage of gross domestic product -- has gone down as well.

Enacting new gun restrictions

What Obama wants

During his first term and his re-election campaign, Obama said little about strengthening gun-control laws or adding new restrictions to gun sales, even after a number of mass shootings. Following the horrific shootings at a Connecticut elementary school, Obama appointed Vice President Joe Biden to a gun control task force and set a goal of passing legislation early this year.

What stands in his way

The National Rifle Association is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, with a grassroots membership of more than 4 million and campaign donations that far outpace the money spent by gun control groups. Polls show the public remains opposed to some gun control measures -- such as bans on assault rifles -- but supportive of increased background checks and other proposals.

How he could get it done

By limiting his proposals. One poll showed more than 92 percent of Americans supported closing the loophole that allows gun shows to avoid federal background checks. Obama will have an easier time making the case for that than an assault weapons ban, which is opposed by 51 percent of Americans.

By working with gun rights groups. After the Virginia Tech shooting, Congress passed a law strengthening the use of mental health records in the federal backgrounds check database for gun purchases, a move supported by the NRA.

Or by waiting. History shows that mass shootings can take several years to lead to new gun laws. New gun control efforts led by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords are just getting started. Obama could face a more receptive Congress in two years.

Reforming immigration

What Obama wants

During his first campaign, Obama pledged to create a pathway to citizenship for the country's 11 million illegal immigrants, a call he reiterated after winning a second term. Already, his administration deferred deportations on some illegal immigrants brought to the country as children and allowed some who are married to U.S. citizens to remain in the U.S. longer before returning home to apply for permanent visas, two changes that did not require Congressional approval.

What stands in his way

House Republicans who are skeptical of citizenship proposals that they consider to be amnesty. Republican Reps. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Bob Goodlatte, who are opposed to many Democratic immigration proposals, were recently appointed to key positions overseeing the drafting of any new immigration legislation.

How he could get it done

By appealing to the public. A December survey showed 62 percent of people were in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.

By appealing to Republican reformers. In the last election, 71 percent of Latino voters went for Obama, a number that is causing some GOP officials heartburn over the party's future electability.

Averting climate change

What Obama wants

During the 2008 Democratic primary, Obama said that future generations would look at his nomination as "the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal."

Though the House passed a sweeping climate change bill in 2009, the legislation died in the Senate.

As he began his second term, Obama is again looking to tackle climate change, but in less direct ways. On his campaign website, the president's energy goals included ending government subsidies for oil companies, investing in cleaner sources and reducing the nation's reliance on foreign oil.

"You know, we've got a huge opportunity around energy," Obama said on "Meet the Press" in late December, naming it one of his top three priorities.

What stands in his way

Many House Republicans don't believe in the science behind climate change. A Bloomberg poll from last year showed that almost two-thirds of likely Republican voters don't believe it either, though most Democrats and independents do.

As long as the House remains in GOP control, a comprehensive climate change bill is not likely to pass. Rising gas prices also could hurt the chances of any legislation that aims to restrict oil imports.

How he could get it done

By tackling it piecemeal. A poll from late 2011 showed 70 percent of Americans opposed oil subsidies. Though Obama's proposal to nix the tax breaks last year died in the Senate, House Speaker John Boehner has signaled he may be willing to end them as part of a broader deal.

By taking action on his own. Last year, Obama finalized regulations requiring passenger cars and trucks get 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025. Those regulations alone could cut U.S. oil imports and reduce emissions.

And by horse trading. Polls show more than two-thirds of Americans support federal funding for alternative energy. Already, Obama got federal incentives for wind power extended in the recent fiscal cliff negotiations.